BESE unfazed by Jindal’s ‘crawfishing’

BATON ROUGE – Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education say they are not influenced by what one called Gov. Bobby Jindal’s “crawfishing” on supporting Common Core State Standards or legislative efforts to adopt different standards.

But some indicated they might support a change.

Jindal originally supported Common Core and in 2010 joined Superintendent of Education John White in enrolling Louisiana in Common Core, a multi-state pact to adopt “common” standards so student performance can be measured and compared against the other states.

BESE endorsed that decision, and for the past two years public schools and numerous private and parochial schools across the state have been working to implement them.

“BESE’s position is strong,” said board member Holly Boffy, of Youngsville, regardless of the governor’s comments that he wasn’t sure that Common Core was right for the state.

“I didn’t appreciate his comments,” but the board is keeping to its schedule for implementing Common Core and testing, she said.

“The governor’s statement has no influence on us,” said BESE President Chas Roemer, of Baton Rouge. “It seems to be a statement of convenience.”

Jindal said Thursday that he is for higher standards, but he’s not convinced that Common Core has the best standards. He said he has “concerns” about Common Core but has not been specific about what bothers him, which has frustrated educators and proponents of the standards

“It would be helpful to know specifically what those concerns are,” said Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana and a strong supporter of Common Core.

“He needs to get more specific about what troubles him,” Roemer said. “We reaffirmed our position (on Common Core) in our January meeting. We think this is the best plan for children.”

BESE member Lottie Beebe, of Breaux Bridge, who is superintendent of schools in St. Martin Parish, said she and many educators had concerns about Common Core, but they favor higher standards.

She said the “pushback” from these standards is that they are not age-appropriate and that implementation in schools was rushed without proper teacher training. “The rigor comes in because students lack the prerequisite skills” for handling the new work. Some things formerly taught in fifth grade are being taught in third grade.

“This year, local school districts took the initiative” and implemented the standards, she said.

“I’m proud of teachers implementing Common Core. We’re getting to where we ought to be, and now the governor is coming out and saying he’s not sure of the standards? If Gov. Jindal has had a change of heart, I applaud him. Where was he when we were struggling?

“I’m surprised he is crawfishing because he’s a member of the National Governors Association,” which pushed Common Core, Beebe said.

White has been a strong supporter of the standards, but the governor indicated that he and the superintendent are not on the same page.

“I’m not trying to create division with John,” Jindal said in response to questions about a possible rift between them. “He’s an independent actor who works for BESE. I don’t always agree with what he does.”

He said BESE members and White “know where we stand on these issues,” and “during this debate we’re going to talk for ourselves.” He added, “I may not always agree with him on every issue, but that’s OK.”

Beebe said she’s surprised by the governor’s words because “John White is in Louisiana because of Gov. Bobby Jindal.”

White chose not to comment on the governor’s statements.

Some opponents of Common Core say it’s a federal takeover of schools

Jindal fed the fears with this comment: “Folks are rightfully concerned about federal government overreach.”

“His idea of not being part of a federal plan, we agree with,” Roemer said. “But that’s not what this is.”

Higher standards were part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top funding plan, but the federal government did not develop Common Core. Funding by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other sources paid for Washington, D.C., consultants to develop standards, which were reviewed by a team of educators. The National Governors Association and other entities adopted CCSS.

The vote on the review panel was not unanimous. Two members who objected said some of the standards were not age-appropriate; one of them said it would “dumb-down” education.

Jindal said he would work with legislators who have proposed bills that would make changes.

BESE member Jane Smith of Bossier City, a former school superintendent and former legislator, said she understands superintendents’ positions that the rush to implement the standards and a lack of proper preparation of teachers caused much of the problems with Common Core. Also, parents were not informed of the changes.

In the Legislature, bills seek to undo the Common Core agreement and instead adopt standards more applicable to Louisiana.

Smith said she believes legislators will succeed in that effort.

“I hope the legislation will address the concerns all of us want. We want higher standards, and we hope they can be Louisiana-built. I hope we see some legislation that will make this plan a better plan.” She’s looking for “something hopefully school districts can endorse.”

Smith said she understands parents’ and school officials’ concerns about the testing component and the data used to make comparisons. “I hope we can relieve parents and administrators about the PARCC assessments” and have a test developed in Louisiana like LEAP and iLEAP.

Boffy said if the Legislature wanted to adopt new standards, “something should have been done four years ago. I don’t think it is legislators’ place to do it. How frustrating it is for the Legislature to step up four years later. It’s frustrating to teachers, too.”